Negotiations over hostages held by Hamas began again on Saturday between the terror group and Israel.

Talks renewed after a new offensive by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) in the Gaza Strip. Hamas official Taher al-Nono said that the latest negotiations have begun without “preconditions,” according to Reuters.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has directed negotiators to stay in Qatar. An Israeli official said the prime minister has kept contact with Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer and U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff “in an effort to dissuade Hamas from its refusal and to advance a deal for the release of our hostages,” according to The Times Of Israel.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz suggested that the new round of talks is because of Israel’s latest offensive, which was announced on Saturday. Katz said that the terror group’s current stance on negotiations “is in contrast to the uncooperative position they had taken up until this moment,” according to The Jerusalem Post.

Hamas last released a hostage on May 12. The terror group released the last living American citizen, Edan Alexander, from captivity after Alexander spent more than 18 months held hostage.

Israeli officials believe that the hostage group has as many as 23 hostages still alive. All hostages have been held by the terror group since October 7, 2023, when Hamas terrorists and Palestinians rushed across the border to Israel and attacked settlements and took hundreds captive.

Israel renewed its military campaign against Hamas on Saturday with airstrikes. It is unknown how many have been killed in the strikes. Hamas officials have claimed that more than 150 have died in the airstrikes, though the numbers are unreliable and Gaza Health Ministry data is suspected of being inflated and doctored for propaganda purposes.

Katz said that the new offensive, dubbed Operation Gideon Chariots, is being led with “great force,” according to CBS News.

“The heroism of IDF soldiers, the unity of the people and the determination of the political echelon increase the chance of the return of the hostages – as it was then and as it is now,” said Katz.

IDF spokesman Col. Avichai Adraee said the Israeli military is “expanding and increasing the bombing and pressure on Hamas throughout the Strip – from north to south, above and below ground, and even outside the Strip.”

The new offensive will not stop until Israel has accomplished its aims of rescuing the hostages or having them returned, and until Hamas has been dismantled, military officials said.

President Donald Trump on Saturday told Walmart CEO Doug McMillon not to raise prices for Americans, but to instead “eat the tariffs.”

Trump recently dropped tariffs on Chinese imports from 145% down to 30%, but this week, McMillion said Walmart still could not absorb the extra costs, and will have to increase prices.

“Walmart should STOP trying to blame Tariffs as the reason for raising prices throughout the chain,” the president posted on Truth Social. “Walmart made BILLIONS OF DOLLARS last year, far more than expected.”

“Between Walmart and China they should, as is said, ‘EAT THE TARIFFS,’ and not charge valued customers ANYTHING,” Trump wrote. “I’ll be watching, and so will your customers!!!”

McMillon made comments about having to raise prices, specifically over tariffs on China, during an earnings call on Thursday.

“We will do our best to keep our prices as low as possible,” he said. “But given the magnitude of the tariffs, even at the reduced levels announced this week, we aren’t able to absorb all the pressure given the reality of narrow retail margins.”

“The higher tariffs will result in higher prices,” McMillon added.

Ethan Miller/Getty Images

There have been mixed reactions online to Trump’s demand for Walmart to “eat” the extra costs. Some have noted that Trump had previously suggested that China would likely “eat” the extra costs themselves.

However, others, like journalist Batya Ungar-Sargon, railed against Walmart for hurting Americans while she said they “brag” about being a pro-American corporation.

“This is absolutely unacceptable and infuriating,” Ungar-Sargon said on Fox News airwaves this week, following McMillon’s comments. “Walmart walks around bragging that 75% of the products that they sell are made here in the United States. Why are you raising prices?”

“Do you know what Walmart’s yearly profits were last year? 169 billion dollars,” Ungar-Sargon continued. “Don’t raise prices. Support the president, support the agenda, support the American working class.”

Ungar-Sargon added that she doesn’t see these potential price hikes as “political,” but more about “rampant greed.”

WATCH:

Walmart CEO Doug McMillon warns that they will be raising prices in response to President Trump’s tariffs. Shoppers will likely see price increases toward the end of May and more in June.

Batya Ungar-Sargon: “This is absolutely unacceptable and infuriating. Walmart walks around… pic.twitter.com/JpONWTgQRE

— RedWave Press (@RedWave_Press) May 16, 2025

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